I am SO excited for this mini-unit. Students always tell me, "I hate poetry..." or "I can't write poetry...." or "I never understand poetry...." If this is you, prepare to be challenged to change these thoughts. Poetry just isn't for guys in tights trying to woo women from balconies as they gaze at the stars. Poetry is everywhere in everything we see, hear and do, and you're going to find it. This unit will combine poetry study with prose (short story) readings to show common themes, but you will also be able to try your hand at writing poetry as well. Overcome your fears, step out of your comfort zone, think outside of the box. This unit will change the way you think about poetry and your ability to read it, understand it, and write it.
If you don't believe me, maybe you will trust Robin Williams who plays John Keating from the movie Dead Poets Society when he says, "we don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman: 'O me, o life of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, o me, o life?' Answer: that you are here. That life exists and identity. That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"
As he explains, we all have a story to tell, a verse to add to life so that when we are gone, that still remains. We lived and impacted the world around us. So in this unit, you will find your story, your song, your verse and your voice and share it with others.
If you don't believe me, maybe you will trust Robin Williams who plays John Keating from the movie Dead Poets Society when he says, "we don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman: 'O me, o life of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, o me, o life?' Answer: that you are here. That life exists and identity. That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"
As he explains, we all have a story to tell, a verse to add to life so that when we are gone, that still remains. We lived and impacted the world around us. So in this unit, you will find your story, your song, your verse and your voice and share it with others.